Bridgeport officials say a police officer died suddenly Saturday evening inside his Stamford home after suffering a heart attack. 

Officer Jarah Matthews-Dixon was a 12-year veteran of the force. During that time, he won a Distinguished Service Medal and the Medal of Merit.

Mayor Joe Ganim called the death a “great loss for the city.”

Chief AJ Perez said in a statement that "Officer Matthews-Dixon was a great officer, a kind person and he will surely be missed. Our department is very saddened at this time.”